Members of The Jacksonville Bar Association met with judges from the family division of the Fourth Judicial Circuit May 22 in a continuation of The JBA's Sidebar Lunch programs.
The program was developed to bring together judges and attorneys in an informal setting to discuss courtroom procedure, attorney conduct and the judges' expectations for other practice areas, including pleading and discovery.
Circuit Judges Tyrie Boyer, Henry Davis, Lance Day, Harvey Jay, E. McRae Mathis, Linda McCallum, Elizabeth Senterfitt and David Wiggins attended the meeting, and attorney Heather Quick moderated the question-and-answer session.
One area the judges agreed that attorneys needed to work on was communication.
"I'm finding that lawyers just need to talk. There's been times when I start a conversation in chambers and I'll leave the room. You can work things out if you just talk to each other and communicate," said Boyer.
Scheduling hearing time has also been problematic, said Jay.
"A reoccurring problem is attorneys are not setting enough time for trials," said Jay.
Day agreed.
"When you say four hours, we assume that both sides will be able to resolve issues in that time," said Day.
Some of the more sought-after information is provided when the judges are asked about their pet peeves.
Wiggins talked about one of the worst mistakes a lawyer could make in his courtroom: arguing after a ruling has been made.
"Hopefully I gave you a chance to present your case and make your argument. When that argument is over and it's my time, it's over," said Wiggins.
"Those lawyers who argue after a judge has ruled, if you ever hear that you won that argument, come and see me," said Wiggins.
Mathis warned attorneys about becoming emotional in the courtroom.
"Some lawyers take on the emotions of their client, and that just doesn't serve the purpose we are here for," said Mathis.
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